Katzo was four years old, sitting on the floor of the Bakugo living room, trying to build a block tower while Katsuki loudly insisted his own tower was "bigger and better and more explosive."
Then the world shifted.
A translucent blue screen flickered directly in his line of sight, blocking out Katsuki's smug face.
[COPY WINDOW STARTED]
Time remaining: 59:59
Please touch the person whose Quirk you wish to copy.
Katzo's heart slammed against his ribs. Now? Here?
He'd been waiting for this — the HUD's second appearance since the hospital. But he didn't expect it in the middle of playtime.
"What are you staring at?" Katsuki demanded. "My tower is awesome, right?"
Katzo blinked. The HUD stayed. The timer ticked down.
[59:41]
Okay. Okay. Think.
Who to copy? Obviously Katsuki. Explosion was broken. He'd seen the manga. He knew what that Quirk could do.
"Kacchan," Katzo said, "can I see your hand?"
"Why?"
"Just… just give me your hand."
Katsuki squinted suspiciously but held out his palm. Katzo touched it.
The HUD flickered.
[Copy attempt failed. No Quirk detected.]
What?
He tried again. Same message.
[58:12]
"Your hand is sweaty," Katsuki said, pulling away. "Weirdo."
Katzo's mind raced. His Quirk hasn't awakened yet. He's only four. Of course it's not there.
Stupid. He was so stupid.
The timer kept dropping. Fifty minutes. Forty. Thirty.
Mitsuki walked through the living room, carrying a laundry basket. She smelled like soap and something sweet — her Glycerin Quirk, the one that kept her skin soft. It was subtle. Not flashy. But it was a Quirk.
And it was awake.
Katzo watched the timer hit [05:33].
Last chance.
He stood up, walked over to Mitsuki, and tugged her sleeve.
"Auntie?"
"What is it, brat?" She set the basket down.
He touched her arm. The HUD blazed.
[Copy successful. Target: Mitsuki Bakugo. Quirk: Glycerin.]
Mutation in progress…
Mutation complete.
[00:01]
[Copy window closed.]
The blue screen faded, leaving only the words:
QUIRK MUTATED
And then nothing.
Mitsuki ruffled his hair. "You feeling okay? You look spaced out."
"Yeah," Katzo said, heart still pounding. "Just tired."
He didn't know what the mutation was. He didn't know what he'd just gained. But as he sat back down next to a grumbling Katsuki, the HUD's final message lingered in his vision like a promise.
Quirk mutated.